Coronavirus India Updates: More Than 4,000 Dead For The Second Consecutive Day
Track the latest updates on the second wave of Covid-19 in India here.
India reported over 4,000 coronavirus deaths for the second consecutive day, as the country continued to battle the world’s fastest spreading outbreak.
4,092 people succumbed to Covid-19 in the last 24 hours taking the nation's death toll to 2.42 lakh, according to the health ministry's 8 a.m. update. To be clear, data on Covid cases and related deaths may be severely deficient as several states have inadequate testing, chronic underreporting and have been reportedly also concealing such data by attributing deaths to other causes.
The country reported over 4 lakh new infections for the fourth day in a row, taking the active caseload over 37 lakh.
Key data points:
- Total confirmed cases: 2,22,96,414
- Total number of active cases: 37,36,648
- Total patients cured/discharged: 1,83,17,404
- Total deaths: 2,42,362
- Number of fresh cases in last 24 hours: 4,03,738
- One-day recoveries: 3,86,444
- One-day deaths: 4,092
- Total vaccination shots administered: 16,73,46,544
More Contagious
Soumya Swaminathan, the World Health Organisation's chief scientist, told AFP in an interview that the Covid-19 variant spreading in India is more contagious. It may also be dodging vaccine protections, contributing to the country's explosive outbreak, she said on Saturday.
“The epidemiological features that we see in India today do indicate that it's an extremely rapidly spreading variant,” Swaminathan told AFP.
Provided 17.56 Crore Doses To States: Central Government
The central government, in a release on Sunday, said that it has so far provided more than 17.56 crore vaccine doses to States and Union Territories, free of cost.
- More than 72 lakh doses are still available with the States/UTs to be administered.
- Over 46 Lakh doses in addition will be received by the States/UTs in the next three days.
Uttar Pradesh Extends Curbs
The government of Uttar Pradesh announced an extension to the ‘partial corona curfew' imposed in the state.
The existing restrictions will continue till May 17, ACS Information Navneet Sehgal said.
Delhi Extends Lockdown By A Week
The Delhi government has decided to extend the lockdown in the national capital by another week, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said in a press statement.
“Thanks to the lockdown, the positivity rate in Delhi has fallen from 35% to 25%,” Kejriwal said, but added that the government cannot afford to loosen restrictions yet.
Keeping in mind the safety of our people, this lockdown will be stricter than before.Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi Chief Minister
Thanking the people of Delhi for their co-operation, the Chief Minister said his government has used the period under the lockdown to increase medical facilities in the city.
Kejriwal assured that the vaccination drive is progressing in full speed, but pointed to a shortage in stock. “I hope for full co-operation from the centre in this regard,” he said.